Science and Technology

Plugging the energy gap: keeping our reactors running, to keep the lights on

By Barry Marsden Filed Under: Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: March 3, 2016

Demand for power continues to increase, and without enabling sufficient access to it, we run into serious economic, social and health problems, argues Prof Barry Marsden. EDF Energy has recently announced the plant life extension of four of their Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors – in Hartlepool, Heysham and Torness. Extending the operating lifetime of these reactors […]

Is Dr Google a good source of medical information?

By Julia Mueller Filed Under: Featured, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: February 23, 2016

We won’t stop Googling our symptoms any time soon, so why aren’t online health information resources more effective? An interdisciplinary study between Computer Science and Health Sciences is trying to answer the question, explains Julia Mueller. The internet is increasingly becoming an important health information source and many people routinely turn to the internet to […]

Why medicine needs computer modelling in the fight against brain disease

By Steve Furber Filed Under: All posts, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: February 18, 2016

Research into new drugs for brain disease is being held back because of a lack of fundamental understanding and models of brain function argues Steve Furber, who explains why policy makers and researchers worldwide should make computer modelling part of the solution. Brain diseases cost the developed economies more than heart diseases, cancer and diabetes […]

What are digital dividends and are they just for the wealthy?

By Richard Heeks Filed Under: All posts, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: February 9, 2016

Digital technologies have seen rapid uptake, across most of our world. So are developing countries seeing the benefits? If not, why not? The World Bank recently published its World Development Report 2016 Digital Dividends. Richard Heeks considers whether this major report accurately reflects the digital revolution and its impact on global development. Some years back, when […]

Radioactive waste: legacy versus new build

By Hollie Ashworth Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: January 20, 2016

Radioactive waste is a controversial topic. But understanding the difference between historic and new wastes would produce a more informed debate, explains Hollie Ashworth. Whenever there is talk about new-build nuclear power stations, there is also talk about the cost of cleaning-up radioactive waste. People often correctly quote figures for the cost of cleaning-up radioactive […]

Were the Paris climate talks a success or a COP-out?

By Jonas Amtoft Bruun Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: January 11, 2016

COP 21 is good news – but only to a point, argues Jonas Amtoft Bruun. “We have an agreement.” Those redeeming words from French foreign minister Laurent Fabius in the evening of Saturday 12 December unleashed a wave of standing ovations from high level UN staff, delegates and observers from business and civil society. Preceding […]

COP21: Changing the way we think about change

By Simon Chin-Yee Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: December 3, 2015

Change is inevitable, but climate change is damaging. Simon Chin-Yee argues that as the COP21 discussions continue in Paris, we must adapt to limit the damage being caused by climate change. Mark Twain once said: “I’m all for progress, its change I object to.” What is it about human nature that makes us averse to […]

(Honesty about) Nuclear Power – No Thanks! (Part two)

By Francis Livens Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: December 2, 2015

Professor Francis Livens continues his search for objectivity in the nuclear debate. As I explained in my previous blog, I recently debated nuclear energy with some opponents. I was concerned about whether their arguments were honest and true, so took time out to investigate them. I have already looked at nuclear waste, here I will […]

(Honesty about) Nuclear power – No Thanks! (Part one)

By Francis Livens Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: December 1, 2015

The case against nuclear power is weakened by simplistic arguments that don’t stand up to scrutiny, argues Professor Francis Livens. I was recently involved in a public debate on nuclear energy. One of my opponent’s arguments against nuclear power was that the UK has no way of dealing with its huge quantities of radioactive waste. […]

Small modular reactors – the real nuclear renaissance?

By Juan Matthews Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: November 18, 2015

The future of the nuclear industry could lie with small reactors, argues Professor Juan Matthews. In the beginning, all reactors in nuclear power stations were small. Calder Hall, Britain’s first power station which went on-line in 1956, consisted of four reactors each generating just 50 MW of electricity. The next generation of Magnox reactors averaged […]